‘Age is nothing but a number. I know this is the fight that will bring the best out of me because I know he will press hard all night long looking for that lightning in the bottle that I know won’t come. You’ll see on Saturday,’ said Tarver.

While his opponent Kayode shot back directly, ‘I will knock you down. I’m sorry to say this to my brother, but on June 2, you will have to go down. He said I was too aggressive when I was fighting, but I’m going to show him aggressive on Saturday.’

Future Hall of Famer Ronald Wright declared he was back to be a champion saying, ‘I’m so excited to be back in the ring – it’s been three years. Boxing got real boring for me and no one wanted to fight me.

‘I’m coming back because I want to be champion. Peter is a great fighter, he’s coming to fight and I’m coming to fight. You’re going to see on Saturday. I wouldn’t come back if I wasn’t ready.’

Quillin had other thoughts however claiming the fight was more about his arrival on the ‘big stage’ than Winky Wright’s comeback. ‘There are a bunch of inspiring stories on this card and I’m glad to be part of it,’ said Quillin.

‘I believe that I’m a future superstar of this sport. My dad came here 32 years ago on Saturday to this country for opportunity and now I’m fighting here for opportunity. I came from the floor to the big stage.’

Antonio Tarver and Lateef Kayode face off at the final press conference for their IBO cruiserweight clash on June 2